England knocks out Colombia on penalties to reach the quarterfinals

No country had lost more penalty shootouts at a World Cup, but even though history was against them England’s inexperienced team held its nerve to see off Colombia in a tense finale and progressed to the quarterfinals.

England were within minutes of reaching the last eight in normal time thanks to a Harry Kane penalty until it conceded an injury-time goal — Yerry Mina powered in a header in the 93rd minute — which allowed the South Americans to live on to extra-time and, ultimately, penalties.

A miss from Mateus Uribe and a one-handed Jordan Pickford save from Carlos Bacca in the shootout proved to be Colombia’s downfall and ensured England, having failed on three previous occasions, won a penalty shootout at a World Cup for the first time in its history.

Previously England had lost six of its seven penalty shootouts at major tournaments, the only win coming against Spain in the European Championships in 1996.

But coach Gareth Southgate — a man who famously missed from the spot in the Euro 1996 semifinal against Germany — had made sure his players took spot-kicks in training and, on this occasion at least, practice made perfect.

Jordan Pickford made a one-handed save to put England back in control of the shootout.

“We talked long and hard about owning the process,” Southgate told ITV when asked about the squad’s approach to penalty shootouts.

“Great credit to all the staff and our players who have taken everything on board.
“We looked at individual technique, looked at how we needed to be as a team, and the goalkeeper has been important in that.

It was left to Eric Dier to convert the winning spot-kick and send fans into fever pitch, changing hope to expectation with Sweden the next opponent on July 7.
Panama players gather after their defeat.

courtesy : cnn.com
photo : CNN International

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